The number of people worldwide suffering from some form of diabetes is thought to have doubled since the 1980’s. What breakthroughs have been made in the prevention, treatment, or care of diabetic people?

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Genetic clues

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Sernova Cell Pouch

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Genetic clues

Researchers at the University of Stirling have recently discovered a new genetic signature in people who develop type 2 diabetes and fail to eliminate their risk through lifestyle alone. The study involved the analysis of 1000 tissue samples from patients undergoing five different treatment approaches. They isolated 16 genes that are can activate genetic activities that disturb insulin sensitivity further following standard diabetic lifestyle treatments. This is the first reliable genetic signature related to insulin sensitivity, and is thought to be potentially groundbreaking in regards to future diabetes research.

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Sernova Cell Pouch

Trials are currently underway in which researchers from the University of Chicago are testing a Cell Pouch System that could be transplanted into diabetes patients that require daily insulin injections. The perforated pouch is filled with insulin producing cells after it is transplanted into the patient's body, and essentially becomes an artificial insulin producing organ. While formerly healthy insulin producing cells could similarly be harvested from deceased donors and injected into a patients liver, the patient would then have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, to stop their body attacking the donor cells. This new procedure utilises a special polymer material that has caused no immune response in previous trials and could be revolutionary in treating a multitude of deficiency diseases.